The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1887-04-22
Train Robbers on the AIRLINE.

Greenvile. April lS.--'It's the biggest piece
CT systematic stealing ever worked on q South
ern railroad,' was wba, Detective II. T. Pellsrs
hal to say t'.nigbt Of tho Air Line freight rob-
oery scheme nf'er hard dsy's work on the
case. Since the affair was sprung on the pub
lilo by the arrest Of Cslawc and the two negr,
Harris and Froneberger en- Saturday, ruuors
have been countless of new DEVELOPMENTS said
to involve men prominent in business and social
life. No confirmation has yet been afforded
these runners, but four moro arrest mado to-day
have added to the excitement and increased this
rumors OF further sensations.
ltappears that tho band have carried ON
regular traffic in goods captured from passing
freight trains, disposing OF the stolen articles
TO merchants all through the county n, we'll ~
IN the city. Trace Ageat Wall. Of the Rich
mnnd and Danville Road, who Is working up
the case, says he has over $1,000 worth OF
goods reported short in tho last few mouths, all
Of which was stolen at this point. Caldwell,
who is now in jsl, has acted as salesman for
tho gang, and in every case tho goods were
sold below the market price. Only staple ar
tioes were dealt in. twenty five or thirty bales
ofPlsids, twelve sacks Of coffee, three bales Of
cotton. besides numerous lots Of tobacco and
cigars being among the lots already identified.
The scheme appears to have been carefully
planned and included numerous copfederates.
John q. Griffin, ID. e. Moore, George John
stono and Harry Leomman were arrested c-1ay,
making seven arrests in all. Griffin is o profess
tioDal horse trainer. aud has been hero since
the Piedmont races last fall. lio has stable
Of hno valuable racers belonging to Heath, OF
Kentucky, quartered Mt the fair grounds. and
has become we'll known among horsemen here,
among whom he bears n good reputation, lie
is believed by the officers to be the ringleadsr
In tho gang. as oil operations have been con-
Quoted near the fair grounds, where Griffin has
lived since he cnnc here. Harry Leoman is q
young white man cmploycl by Griffin M ho,tisr
George Johnstone is q brcther-in.law Of Csld-
wells and known to be intimately associated
with him. Moore is proprietor Of o smnll shop
in the suburbs where a sack Of coffee and sew.
eral thousand cigars were discovered to-day.
IIc attempted to conceal the articles when the
store was searched, and was Immediately put
under arrest.
Investigation to day revealed the fact that
numerous parties have purchased goods from
Caldwell, the agent of the thieves, who repre-
sentcd himself rs drummer. Mark & Endel,
dry goods dealers, have about $500 of the sts-
len goods, mn n 10. OF tobacco has been found
Mt Turner Poole's bar. Lipscomb & Russell,
grocerr, have bought tobacco and cigars al
different times, and q bale Of plaids was found
inc l.. Fosters store and Unidentified as stolen
property. Warrants were served to-day on
Caldwell and ,Johnstone for selling whiskey and
tobacco without license
Detective Fellcrs, Chief Of Police Kenu sdy,
Watchman John .llilllIouse and Officer Fred
Sehlapbach are Mt work On the Investigation
and further arrests arc expected tomorrow
Preliminary examinations will not DO had
before Justice Earl until the case is fully do.
velopcd. Ii is generally conceded to be the
most extensive scheme Of robbery ever known
in this section, and people are just now wonder
ing how SO much knnvcry and cunning schemes
TO detect II could have gone on for months with
absolute secrccy.-Speeial 10 Ne,rs and Courier